ROBERT KOCHARIAN: BE SURE THAT ARMENIA-DIASPORA RELATIONS ARE PRIORITY FOR US
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “I would consider
this conference the highest body of Armenian people’s collective
wishes, during which we all make decisions and try to carry them out,”
RA President Robert Kocharian declared on September 20, at the closure
ceremony of the Armenia-Diaspora third conference.
The President considered that it was still early to give estimations to
the conference’s work, but informed those present that all proposals
voiced at the meetings held within the framework of the conference
will be summed up without fail. Robert Kocharian said that we should
avoid the issues that disunite Armenia and Diaspora and not unite them.
In his words, there are approaches, the solutions to which are
difficult to give today, at the same time, he declared: “We should
keep them in our mind, for them to be touched upon in the future, for
instance, the issue of spelling, the issue of a structure coordinating
Diasporan structures, etc.”
The President said that it is possible to form a very wide field of
consent and assured that all materials of the conference will be
summed up in a very short period: “In the line of the government
these decisions will become a part of the government activity
program, just like we did after the previous conference. Be sure
that Armenia-Diaspora relations are priority for us. Not to collect
such a powerful potential in the globalized world around one issue,
for solution of national goals, would be criminal negligence for the
Armenian leadership,” Robert Kocharian declared.

LIBERATED TERRITORIES WILL BE REPOPULATED IF RESPECTIVE CONDITIONS
ARE CREATED, MIKAEL APRESIAN IS CONVINCED
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. “The most part of the liberated
territories is not repopulated today because of indifference of the
current authorities, whereas many Armenians were driven from their
native lands and became refugees.” Mikael Apresian, Chairman of
the Armenian Voluntary Movement, declared at the September 20 press
conference at the Pastark club.
In his words, the interests and rights of these refugees are not
protected either by Armenia or by Karabakh. And in consequence
of such approach, in M.Apresian’s words, “Azerbaijan starts to
take the offensive and to take an aggressive position towards the
liberated territories.” “This has been spoken about so much today
that Kelbajar population paniced and thinks about moving. We have
the same situation in Lachin,” M.Apresian said. He is sure that if
the respective conditions are created, the Armenians having migrated
to various countries will resettle in these territories.
The movement members are also anxious about the fate of the Lebanese
Armenians. In M.Apresian’s words, the peacekeeping Armenian mission in
Lebanon is urgent, as Turkey has already sent a marine light infantry
there, which was dislocated in Armenian populated areas. In his words,
Azerbaijan is also going to send troops, whereas Armenia has taken
no step in this direction yet. “The Armenian volunteers are ready to
leave for Lebanon. Doing so we can support our compatriots, take part
in international political processes and noticeably raise Armenia’s
weight and rating,” M.Apresian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CNN STARTS BROADCASTING ADS ABOUT ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2006
YEREVAN, September 20. /ARKA/. CNN American TV-company began
broadcasting ads about Armenia, Public television of Armenia reports.
Beginning from Tuesday CNN broadcasts two ads presenting the culture,
nature, traditions and customs of Armenia, its historical and cultural
monuments.
The advertisements were presented within the framework of
Armenia-Diasporas forum.
According to Armenian Public television, Arabic Al Jazira TV-channel is
also interested in Armenia. Beginning from September 21, (Independence
Day of Armenia – ARKA) the TV-channel, having already demonstrated
interview with Presidents of Armenia and NKR Robert Kocharyan and
Arkady Ghukasyan, will being broadcasting series of programs about
Armenia and NKR. S.P.–0–

“ENTERPRISES INCUBATOR FOUNDATION”, SUN MICROSYSTEMS SIGN CONTRACT ON COOPERATION
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2006
YEREVAN, September 20. /ARKA/. The Enterprises Incubator Foundation
(EIF) and Sun Microsystems signed a cooperation contract today,
Tigran Davtyan, deputy minister of trade and economic development of
Armenia reported at the Armenia-Diaspora Second Economic Forum.
“This cooperation will extend the scope of programs on assistance to
small and medium entrepreneurship currently implemented in Armenia,”
he said.
Director of the EIF Bagrat Yengibaryan reported that the cooperation
will be carried out in three directions: the establishment of a
radio-frequency identification laboratory (RFID); establishment of
Java labs in cooperation with the country’s leading universities for
the training of young specialists; establishment of Solution Centers.
Yengibaryan explained that the Centers will allow the software
developers to test their products.
“This will allow Armenia to think of the next step. And it can turn
from a country executing foreign orders into one selling IT products,”
Yengibaryan said. R.O. –0–

PM: ARMENIA CAN BECOME REGIONAL CENTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2006
YEREVAN, September 20. /ARKA/. Armenia can become the regional center
in information technologies area, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan said at Innovative Information and Communication Technologies
International Conference launched Wednesday in Yerevan.
In his words, investments in innovative technologies sector grew a
great deal recently. It makes 1.7% of GDP.
In his opinion, Armenia has sufficient capacity to become the regional
center.
Margaryan stressed the importance of information and telecommunication
technologies’ role in Armenian economy development.
He said Armenia government does whatever necessary to ensure the
development.
As an example of the government’s efforts, the premier singled
out the government-affiliated Council for Information Technologies
Development set up to discuss strategic and legislative issues related
to information society building.
The PM stressed that Armenian information technologies area
presentation is increasingly widening and pointed out Digites annual
exhibition that is becoming traditional in Yerevan.
In his words, the government, taking into consideration the sector’s
quick development, has decided to hold Information Technologies Month
between September 15 and October 15 in Armenia.
“I’m convinced these efforts will produce results very soon”,
Margaryan said.
He also attached great importance to cooperation between Armenia and
Armenian communities worldwide in this area.
“Our overseas nationals take direct and active part in the process of
establishing IT-companies. I think this cooperation will be continued
and will become comprehensive”, the premier said.
He wished good luck to the conference participants. M.V. -0—

BOSTON DISTRICT COURT DENIED STATEMENT OF CLAIM OF TURKISH-AMERICAN
ASSOCIATIONS AGAINST TEACHING SUBJECT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF MASSACHUSETTS
ARMINFO News Agency
September 20, 2006 Wednesday
The Federal District Court of Boston has made a decision the day before
to deny the statement of claim of the Turkish-American Associations
Assembly against teaching the subject of the Armenian Genocide in
the educational program of the Massachusetts state.
As ArmInfo was told in the Armenian Assembly of America, the assistant
of the Prosecutor General, William Porter, had given undisputable
arguments as to deny the statement of claim of Turkish Associations
and other claims for the purpose of elimination of this subject from
the training materials.

“OUR HOME -ARMENIA” PARTY LEADER OFFERED TO SHOOT ARMENIAN BRIBE-TAKERS
ARMINFO News Agency
September 20, 2006 Wednesday
“The members of “Our Home – Armenia” party are ready to extirpate the
bribery in the Republic within a month. It will be just enough to shoot
3-4 people and the problem of corruption will be resolved”, the leader
of “OHA”, Vachagan Chibukhchyan, said at the party’s special session.
He noted he intends to raise the issue of exemption of the Armenia’s
boundary village dwellers from the payment of communal services. “We
have oligarchs who had robbed our people for many years. Let them
share these 50 villages between them and pay money to the state
treasury instead of the countrymen”, Chibukhchyan said. In case
if they refuse, we “shall make them answer”, he said. The idea to
attract the Armenian Diaspora to such “charity”, as to Chibukhchyan,
is not serious, as in this case “the money will not reach those in
need and will be “eaten” by officials”.

RA DM AND DEPUTY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF USA EUROPEAN COMMAND DISCUSSED
ARMENIAN- AMERICAN MILITARY COOPERATION DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS
ARMINFO News Agency
September 20, 2006 Wednesday
The RA Defense Minister Serzh Sarkissyan and the deputy
Commander-in-Chief of the USA European Command, William Ward, have
discussed at today’s meeting the prospects of development and the
present stage of Armenian-American military cooperation.
As the DM press-secretary, the Colonel Seiran Shahsuvaryan, told
ArmInfo, the parties expressed satisfaction by the cooperation of the
two countries in the sphere of military education, as well as noted
the necessity of implementing an Institute of professional sergeant.
In his turn, the General Ward noted the high level of military
preparation, an ability to orient in extreme situations, as well as a
good organization of Armenian peace-makers, who carry out a mission
in Iraq and Kosovo. The interlocutors have also touched upon the
issues of Armenia’s participation in the initiatives of international
stability establishment. They have also exchanged opinions concerning
the regional and international development.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARDAN OSKANYAN: THE FUTURE OF ARMENIA-DIASPORA RELATIONS DEPENDS ON
NEW GENERATION OF DIASPORA ARMENIANS
ARMINFO News Agency
September 20, 2006 Wednesday
The future of Armenia-Diaspora relations depends on the new generation
of the Armenians residing abroad, said Foreign Minister of Armenia
Vardan Oskanyan commenting on the 3rd All Armenian Forum Armenia-
Diaspora at the request of ArmInfo. The forum was completed, Wednesday.
He disagreed with the statements of some forum participants from
Diaspora that the forum has become a regular assembly of high-flown
words and good wishes. After the first Forum in 1999, much has been
done, even the things that seemed impossible in 1999. The present
Forum, particularly, discussed the program of village development
in Armenia. A special fund has been created which will become part
of the All Armenian Foundation “Hayastan” in 6-7 months. Due to it,
the telethons will now bring much more than $9-10 million.
As regards the relations with Diaspora on the whole, Vardan Oskanyan
said our past transferred from generation to generation is gradually
fading. “If we fail to become interesting for the new generation and to
show that we are still competitive in the region in the sphere of both
economy, democracy and information, we’ll lose it,” the minister said.

KARABAKH WAR VETERANS ADVOCATE ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN
PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN LEBANON
ARMINFO News Agency
September 20, 2006 Wednesday
While Turkey is deploying almost a thousand soldiers in the Armenian
regions of Lebanon and Azerbaijan a is also planning to send its
contingent to the Middle East, Armenia has no right to sit by, says
the commander of the Artsakh regiment, one of the leaders of the
rising Movement of Commanders of Armenian Volunteers Mikayel Apressyan.
He says that it is the duty of the Armenian state to protect its
Diaspora in any country. That’s why Armenia must take part in the
peacekeeping operation in Lebanon.
From: Baghdasarian